Hello, friends! Thank you all so much for your warm reception of Practically Raw Desserts. If you have the book already and are enjoying it, I’d be honored if you would take a quick moment to leave a 5-star review on Amazon. Also, I’m going on a “blog tour” this week in support of the book! You can check out the details here; feel free to stop by some of those blogs this week to say hello and voice your support. I couldn’t have created this book without YOU guys!

Now, let’s get down to business. The subject of today’s review is Rockin’ Wellness, a relative newcomer to the world of “nutrition shakes.” When I first heard of it awhile back, I figured it was just another protein powder, but I was quite wrong. When I got a chance to sample some recently, I was not only set straight, but I was pleasantly surprised as well.

Rockin’ Wellness is actually a total body nutrition shake made with the world’s top superfoods. Its creators, Seth and Mike, wanted an energizing drink they could feel good about fueling their bodies with while on the go. The result is a gluten-free, vegan, nutrient-rich powder that not only tastes great and provides a natural pick-me-up, but also offers a number of unique health benefits not found in your typical shake mix.

At first glance, Rockin’ Wellness‘ ingredients list may appear to be a mixed bag. Those of us who are quite picky about our diets tend to immediately home in on ingredients we’re not huge fans of. Some people may wrinkle their nose at the organic cane sugar (while others might not like the stevia), or some may dislike the inclusion of soy lecithin (even though it’s non-GMO) or guar gum.

However, when you stand back and look at the list as a whole, I think it’s rather impressive. In addition to the cacao (mmm, chocolate), brown rice protein, and superberry (goji!) powders, it contains tons of raw, organic, and non-GMO ingredients; a bevy of omega-3-rich seeds (hemp, chia, and flax); nondairy probiotics (!); and even natural energy enhancers like green tea and yerba maté. No matter how you shake it (har har), this is a high-quality product, and it’s clear that a lot of thought was put into its development. I’m ok with the small amounts of natural sweeteners, emulsifier, and stabilizer it contains, because I know that’s part of what helps it taste so great—which helps encourage me to consume it regularly and reap the benefits.

Speaking of consuming it regularly, Rockin’ Wellness developed something they call the 45-Day Challenge. They suggest you consume 2 scoops (mixed with 10 ounces of nondairy milk) every morning for 45 days before or instead of breakfast or lunch. Three bags of Rockin’ Wellness will last you 45 days, so that means the total cost of the 45-Day Challenge is less than $3.00 per day.

This “45-Day Challenge” was clearly created in the spirit of the “90-Day Challenge” and “24-Day Challenge” that certain other, lesser-quality, MLM-style, to-remain-unnamed supplement companies have made big. Nothing against those other companies or anyone who works for them, but I say hey, more power to Rockin’ Wellness for creating a healthful alternative to those less-than-good-for-you marketing schemes.

I didn’t take the 45-Day Challenge myself, but I will admit that I have found myself consuming at least a scoop a day of this stuff since it landed in my hands. I honestly didn’t expect to like it as much as I do. Sure, I’ve done the obvious and put it into shakes and smoothies, but I’ve really gotten into employing it in some unusual ways.

Another fun way to use it is in recipes, especially raw recipes! For example, since Rockin’ Wellness is chocolatey, you can use it in place of cacao/cocoa powder in recipes in Practically Raw Desserts. (Seriously, try the Ultimate Raw Brownies on page 67 with Rockin’ Wellness in place of the cacao. WOWOWOW.) You can also use it in the handful of recipes calling for protein powder, if you want a chocolate-flavored treat.

One thing I’ve been especially enjoying is making…Rockin’ Wellness Cookies! It’s so simple, I can’t even really call it a recipe.

Stir, stir, stir with a fork until it comes together (it’ll still be a little grainy; that’s ok).

Scoop it onto a small square of wax paper on a plate.

Place in the fridge for 20 minutes or the freezer for 5 minutes, until chilled and firm.

Then eat. That’s it!

So there you have it. If you’re looking for a protein/supplement powder that’s a little out of the ordinary, contains a variety of nutritious, high-quality ingredients, offers a natural energy boost, and tastes amazing, give Rockin’ Wellness a shot.